Before I say yes to a deal on a 2012 am I crazy to not get the 2013? The 2012 in this deal is now $$8,100 off sticker. Truly.
If I get the 2012 it's mostly a volt I would like in V jewel color. If it were a 2013 I would get black because I actually like the black touches they took away for the 2013.
What are the main differences?
Thanks to you all.

drbruns

02-01-2013, 10:00 AM

IMO the pre 2013 color scheme is better. 2013s have MyLink standard, Hold mode, and lower cold weather ICE settings. Apparently, the 2013 battery capacity is slightly higher. If you are getting $8K off sticker on a 2012 that is the color you want, it would be hard to pass up. Good luck- in either case you come out a winner by driving a Volt!

Volusiano

02-01-2013, 10:01 AM

Can you break up the $8,100 into the different discount/rebate components for clarity? Is the $7,500 tax credit considered in there?

Voltini

02-01-2013, 10:05 AM

The car is being sold to me for $35,000 plus the tax incentives and state rebate. It's $7,100 off sticker price plus my $1,000 voucher which chevy told me is still valid. Tax incentives and state rebate comes later in the year of coarse.

garyg

02-01-2013, 10:06 AM

If you were going to be satisfied with using a 120v charging and never go to 240v, get the 2012 for sure (8 vs 12 amp charging).

8k off is heck of a deal. esp if you get 7.5k and the Illinois thing someday.....

CarZin

02-01-2013, 10:08 AM

Go with the 2012.

You are in a very cold part of the world, so not having the 'low' engine assist setting they have in the 2013 WILL have you running the engine more in cold weather. But I think the savings you are getting is more than worth it.

The 2013 adds a few nice features, mainly Hold mode, the larger battery, and the less intrusive ERDTT cycle (plus FCA and LKA if you option them in.) On the other hand, the 2012 Volt is already an awesome car in its own right, and $8k is a lot of money (though I'd think the voucher would be good on either, so it's really $7k saved.)

Knowing what I do now, for that money I think I'd take the 2013, assuming it has the options you want. If it was only a couple grand cheaper, I'd take a 2013 for Hold mode...

Volusiano

02-01-2013, 10:20 AM

Can someone explain the 240v charging differences please? I know zero about this. Thank you.There's no charging difference in 240V mode for 2012 and 2013. But for 120V, 2012 default is 12A while 2013 default is 8A, and you must manually select the 12A option EVERY SINGLE TIME before you plug in the 120V EVSE. You can't set a 2013 to default to 12A charging on 120V. The default will always be 8A and you must override it to 12A manually every single time you charge.

gschuck

02-01-2013, 10:22 AM

The 2013 charges at 8amps by default. You can press about 4 buttons on the screen to get it to charge at 12amps. You have to do this every time that you want to charge at 12amps. The 2012 charges at 12amps all the time. This knocks a few hours off the time that it takes to get a full charge. At 240v the amp setting does not matter.

I have a 2013 and do not find switching the amp setting an issue.

Volusiano

02-01-2013, 10:26 AM

The 2013 adds a few nice features, mainly Hold mode, the larger battery, and the less intrusive ERDTT cycle (plus FCA and LKA if you option them in.) On the other hand, the 2012 Volt is already an awesome car in its own right, and $8k is a lot of money (though I'd think the voucher would be good on either, so it's really $7k saved.)

Knowing what I do now, for that money I think I'd take the 2013, assuming it has the options you want. If it was only a couple grand cheaper, I'd take a 2013 for Hold mode...Well, it's not really $7K saved between the 2012 and 2013 model, because we don't know what kind of discount the dealer will give for the 2013 model. If the standard $2K GM rebate is already included as well, then the difference is really $5K now. But this is not counting what kind of dealer discount you can get for the 2013 vs the 2012. For example, if the dealer is willing to discount $3500 off the 2013, then the REAL difference is only $1500 between the 2 model years.

You also have to consider whether the 2012 one being considered has any unnecessary options that you don't want or not, that you wouldn't have had to be stuck with for the 2013 model because you have more choices there.

If you want to take it another step further, you'd also have to consider the resale value difference between a 2012 vs 2013 a few years down the line, if you ever want to sell it or trade it in. The 2013 with the hold and a slightly bigger battery/EPA rating may hold slightly more resale value than a 2012 without all those new stuff, even if the mileage is the same.

And finally, somebody might have mentioned this already, make sure that this is sold as a brand new car where you have the first title so you can claim the $7.5K tax credit. If it's sold as used then you won't be able to claim that tax credit.

There's no difference in the charging of 2012s vs 2013s on 220V. However, charging on 110V with the supplied cord is different. On a 2012, the cord has a button on it to change between 8 amp and 12 amp charging - you have to change it on the cord with the cord plugged in to the wall but not the car, and then it stays set until you change it.

On a 2013, there's no button on the cord. Instead, you set charging on the center console display - and it resets itself to 8 amps every time you take it out of park. So if you want to use the included cord to charge at 110V and 12A, you have to reset it on the center console every time.

Personally, I found a 220 cord well worth the money early in my Volt time, so it wouldn't affect me. It does annoy a lot of 2013 owners.

bro1999

02-01-2013, 11:05 AM

I own a 2012 Volt that was built late in the '12 MY, and it has the "very cold" setting that all 2013s have. I would take another test drive in the 2012 and dive into the configuration menu and see if it has that option.
Some late year 2012s also have Mylink, but only if the nav option was not installed. Some people also believe late year 2012s have the increased battery capacity the 2013s have (so 38 mile EV range instead of 35), but that has not been confirmed.

Voltini

02-01-2013, 11:15 AM

It does not have NAV so I bet no My link. I am torn now. I like V jewel color but I think the car looks best in Black. So now, I am thinking of telling them to find me a black 2013..... UGH...... I hate decisions. very much.
Thanks everyone.

bro1999

02-01-2013, 11:21 AM

It does not have NAV so I bet no My link. I am torn now. I like V jewel color but I think the car looks best in Black. So now, I am thinking of telling them to find me a black 2013..... UGH...... I hate decisions. very much.
Thanks everyone.

If it DOESN'T have Nav, there is a slight chance it has mylink.

I say get a quote for a 2013, and compare it to the 2012 quote and see where you are.

saghost

02-01-2013, 11:31 AM

And it does, indeed, affect those MY2013 owners with a home 240v charger when they attempt any off-site 110v charging, probably more so since they more regularly use the 240v charger, they forget about having to reset to 12A with the portable 110v charger.

I meant what I said - it wouldn't affect me. All of my opportunity charging has been just that - opportunities in new places, requiring a decision each time. And for half of the half dozen times I've charged outside my garage in the last 15 months, I chose the lower rate. If someone was using the 110 cord to charge at work or something like that, they'd obviously be in a different situation than I am.

fotomoto

02-01-2013, 11:36 AM

Last fall, I was in the same boat decision wise as leasing was out since I drive too many miles. I went with a '12. I felt the price and better financing incentives outweighed the .5 kWh larger battery and hold mode. The charge rate issue along with too many reports of centerstack issues with '13 helped seal the deal. Note: a software update might eliminate the centerstack issues.

Trivia: supposedly some of the last '12's built in june/july 2012 have the longer range battery.

bonaire

02-01-2013, 11:56 AM

I'd go for the 2012. The reason to buy a Volt is to save money (kinda) and this is a good way to get a Volt for less.

I bought my 2011 in July of 2012. So, I'm into the savings thing.

Steverino

02-01-2013, 12:43 PM

I'd seriously consider the 2012 if it has all the options you want. There seems to be a slightly higher rate of center console glitches in 2013 (perhaps due to the new radio/nav options). Not saying 2013 would be a bad choice, but that a heavily discounted 2013 would be very good choice. You are in a great position: you have a choice between two good options.

garyg

02-01-2013, 01:09 PM

If you get a 2013 you will have to wait 6 months for any regrets and then a whole year for the next round of regrets... with a 2012 the regrets are known. I got a 2012 and liked it enough to get a Volt 2 and I would have leased another 2012 if the deal was right. But the deals are on the 2013, so got a 2013.

I personally would get the 2012 if the deal looks good and it sounds pretty good if the financing is right (0%?).

rlempicki

02-01-2013, 01:49 PM

IMO the pre 2013 color scheme is better. 2013s have MyLink standard, Hold mode, and lower cold weather ICE settings. Apparently, the 2013 battery capacity is slightly higher. If you are getting $8K off sticker on a 2012 that is the color you want, it would be hard to pass up. Good luck- in either case you come out a winner by driving a Volt!

My late model 2012 has the lower cold weather ICE option, "No Engine-Assisted Heat when Plugged-in" option, and possibly (not confirmed) the 16.5 kWh battery since the display indicates I use 10.8 kWh before CS kicks on. No MyLink, but likely due to having the nav option.

rlempicki

02-01-2013, 01:54 PM

It does not have NAV so I bet no My link. I am torn now. I like V jewel color but I think the car looks best in Black. So now, I am thinking of telling them to find me a black 2013..... UGH...... I hate decisions. very much.
Thanks everyone.

The other way around, if the 2012 has nav, it will not have MyLink. If no nav, then you need to check if it has MyLink.

David B. Kelting

02-01-2013, 03:34 PM

If you were going to be satisfied with using a 120v charging and never go to 240v, get the 2012 for sure (8 vs 12 amp charging).

8k off is heck of a deal. esp if you get 7.5k and the Illinois thing someday.....

I agree 100%

ken42

02-01-2013, 05:18 PM

I have a MY 2013 and have not found the daily switch to 12a a problem. Just switch at any traffic stop on the final leg of trip home. You don'have to wait until you are about to plug in.
Of course I prefer the body matching roof. It's too hot in Florida for a black roof.
Bottom line - buy one - it will be worth it either way.

rickkop

02-01-2013, 06:06 PM

Currently the 2012 has a $3,000 rebate from GM, the 2013 rebate is $2,000 and read the fine print on that GM voucher you got from the website. Mine was good only on a 2013 model. I am also trying to decide between a 2012 and a 2013. That $8,100 discount you are getting on the 2012 is way more than the $4,400 off msrp I am being offered here in New York.

Joule

02-01-2013, 06:42 PM

And finally, somebody might have mentioned this already, make sure that this is sold as a brand new car where you have the first title so you can claim the $7.5K tax credit. If it's sold as used then you won't be able to claim that tax credit.

Yes- this was an old trick used when the 7500 tax credit first came out. The dealer titles the car, claims the tax credit, then sells the car "like new" to some poor soul who later finds out they can't claim the tax credit on a used car. If you do this please look at the details on the paperwork to ensure it's being sold as new.